Shuttle structure



Jan. 1, 1939. I 0. 1 BENOIT 2,143,505

SHUTTLE STRUCTURE Filed Dec. 16, 1937 0V1LA J BE/VOII' .Mhllllllb INVENTOR w BY ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 10, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SHUTTLE STRUCTURE Application December 16, 1937, Serial No. 180,131

4 Claims.

This invention relates to a shuttle structure and more particularly to means for supporting a thread carrying member or bobbin of longitudinally flattened form, having a substantially elliptical cross-section, in thread delivery position within the shuttle while permitting its movement to and from dofling position.

One object of the invention is the provision of suitable means for mounting a thread carrying member of the character described in a loom shuttle in such a manner as to maintain the major axis or its elliptical cross-section substantially horizontal and support a thread carrying member of this type within the shuttle while at the same time permitting its movement to and from doffing position for removal and replacement.

A further object of the invention is the provision in a device of this character of means for 20 supporting a longitudinally flattened thread carrying member of this type in position for the delivery of the thread therefrom while at the same time providing means for positive engagement with a portion of the thread carrying member to retain the same in proper position upon the spindle.

Another object of the invention is the provision in a device of this character of a spindle member having a flat or lenticular blade portion 30 of substantial length adapted to fit within the opening in a flattened thread carrying member, together with means on the spindle blade for contacting resiliently with the inner wall of the thread carrying member at points coinciding substantially with the minor axis of its elliptical or oblong cross-section.

Other objects and advantages of the invention relate to various improved details of construction and novel arrangements of the parts as will be more fully set forth in the detailed description to follow.

Referring to the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view through a portion of a loom shuttle illustrating the manner of mounting the spindle member and showing a portion of the thread carrying member in partially raised position.

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of one form of spindle member,

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of a somewhat modified form of spindle member.

Fig. 4 is a side elevational view of still another form of spindle member,

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view through the thread carrying member and spindle member, taken substantially along the line 55 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view through the thread carrying member and spindle member, taken substantially along the line 6-43 of Fig. 1, and,

Fig. 7 is a side elevational view of a portion of a spindle member similar to that shown in Fig. 2, showing a modified form of base adapted for application to the rotating element of a winding machine forv winding thread on the thread carrying member.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated herewith I designates a loom shuttle having a bobbin receiving recess 2 formed in one side thereof for receiving a thread carrying member 3 which is flattened substantially throughout in a direction longitudinally of its extent as well as being tapered somewhat from the base to the delivery end thereof. The thread carrying member or bobbin 3 may be formed from pressed fibrous material, fiber board, or the like and is substantially elliptical in cross-section transversely thereof, being provided with a central opening extending throughout the greater portion of its length to receive a spindle member. The relatively thin fibrous shell of the thread carrier member bobbin may be reinforced adjacent to the base thereof and throughout a portion of its length by a thin shell 5 of metal or other suitable material which is provided with an outwardly projecting base flange 6 extending therearound.

A pin 1 is secured in or passed through the shuttle body to be received within a recess II and provide a pivotal support for a spindle member 8 which is provided with a shoulder 9 located adjacent to the base thereof and has a heel IE1 adapted to be engaged by a spring plate I2 secured to the shuttle body by a screw or like fastening means I4, and having a resilient end portion adapted to contact with and press resiliently against the heel portion of the spindle member. The spindle member is provided with a flattened or transversely lenticular blade portion l5 extending forwardly from the shoulder 9 a sufiicient distance to fit substantially within the central opening formed in the thread carrying member. The blade portion l5 of the spindle member 8 comprises sections I6 separated from each other at their free ends and which may be bowed outwardly from each other throughout a portion of their extent as from a plane corresponding substantially with the central transverse plane of the blade to engage resiliently the inner wall of the thread carrying member at points coinciding substantially with the minor axis of its elliptical cross-section for such engagement with the thread carrying member as will hold it substantially securely in its operating position within the shuttle body.

A retaining plate i! is carried by the shuttle body and secured therein to extend transversely of the bobbin receiving recess 2 and mounted in position to be engaged by the base flange 6 carried by the thread carrying member to retain the thread carrying member positively in thread delivering position within the shuttle. The retaining plate I! is provided with a recess l8 formed in one side thereof, the lower portion of which is shaped to coincide substantially with the longer transverse curvature of the thread carrying member adjacent to the base thereof, while the outer portion of the recess I8 is widened, as indicated at H], to permit movement of the thread carrying member and spindle to or from dofiing position without injury to the base flange 6 through engagement with a portion of the retaining plate.

When in operative position upon the blade portion l5 of the spindle member the base portion of the thread carrying member is adapted to be in substantial contact with the elliptical shoulder 9 carried by the spindle member.

In that form of spindle member shown in Fig. 3 of the drawing the spindle member 20 is provided with a shoulder 9 and has a heel It] with a recess ll formed therein corresponding substantially with those parts of the spindle member 8 previously described. A blade portion 2i extends forwardly from the shoulder 9 and is of substantially flattened or lenticular form to fit within the central recess in the thread carrying member 3. The blade portion of the spindle member 20 may comprise correspondingly shaped separated plates 22, the extreme end portions of which may be integral or united together throughout a portion of their longitudinal extents, and wherein their intermediate portions 22 are bowed outwardly somewhat from each other to engage resiliently and press against the inner wall of the thread carrying member at points corresponding substantially with the minor axis of its elliptical cross-section or adjacent to its area of minimum traverse curvature for fitting against and holding the thread carrying member properly in position within the recess of the shuttle body.

In that form of spindle member shown in Fig. 4 of the drawing the spindle member 25 is provided with an elliptical shoulder 9 corresponding substantially with that of the other forms shown, and a heel portion it having a recess H formed therein whereby it may be pivotally mounted on the pin I. In this form of the spindle member there is provided a blade portion 26 of substantially flattened or lenticular shape extending forwardly from the shoulder 9 and adapted to fit substantially within the recess formed in the thread carrying member 3. In this form of the spindle there is provided a central blade portion 27 and opposed portions 28 located opposite the sides of greater extent of the central portion 21, each of which are preferably bowed outwardly somewhat from the central portion 21, as indi cated at 30, to engage and press resiliently against the inner wall of the thread carrying member 3 at points coincidingsubstantially with the minor axis of the elliptical cross-section of the member 3 for securing and retaining the same in proper position within the shuttle recess.

In each form of the spindle member above described the base flange 6 of the thread carrying member is positioned in contact with or closely adjacent the shoulder 9 of the spindle when placed thereon, and is adapted to be engaged or substantially engaged by the curved portion of the retaining plate ll formed by the recess 18 and which conforms substantially with the crosssectional contour of the thread carrying member upon one of the sides of least curvature, whereby the thread carrying member is positively retained upon the spindle when in its thread delivering position.

In that form of spindle shown in Fig. '7 of the drawing, the blade portion may be similar in all respects to the blade portion or" the spindle 8 as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawing, and it is provided with a shoulder 53 similar to that shown in Fig. 2. The base portion 32 may be circular in cross-section and provided with a reduced holder engaging portion 33 from which extends a reduced threaded end 34 The reduced holder engaging portion 33 and threaded end are adapted for operative engagement with the spindle holder portion of a rotatable shaft forming part of a winding machine structure, and the spindle shown is adapted to provide a support for a thread carrying member of a type similar to that shown herein, whereby it may be supported in suitable position on a w nding machine to receive the winding of thread prior to its insertion in the shuttle.

The provision of a longitudinally flattened thread carrying member of the character shown when supported within a shuttle body with the major axis of its elliptical cross-section substantially horizontal is adapted to carry a relatively large quantity of thread while maintaining the same a suflicient distance below the plane of the upper surface of the shuttle to prevent injury to or interference with the thread dLuing movement of the shuttle.

In supporting thread carrying members of this type it is found that means are desirable for providing substantial and effective contact between the blade portion of the spindle member and the inner wall of the thread carrying member at points coinciding substantially with either the major or the minor axes of the elliptical crosssection of the thread carrying member to hold the member securely in place on the spindle and prevent any substantial axial movement of the thread carrying member relative to the spindle.

What I claim is:

1. In a shuttle structure of the character described, the combination with a flattened thread carrying member of fixed shape having a central recess of elliptical cross-section, of a, support for said member comprising a spindle having an oblate blade portion fitting substantially within the recess in said thread carrying member and having parts of said blade portion on opposite sides of its maximum cross-sectional diameter bowed outwardly to engage resiliently the inner wall of said thread carrying member at points substantially on the minor axis of its elliptical cross-section.

2. In a shuttle structure, the combination with a permanently shaped tapering, tubular thread carrying member of substantially elliptical crosssection throughout, of a spindle member having a tapered transversely lenticular blade portion fitting substantially within the tubular thread carrying member and having resilient means projecting outwardly from the major transverse axis of said blade for frictionally engaging areas of minimum curvature upon opposite sides of the inner wall of said tubular member for holding the same in position relative thereto.

3. In a shuttle structure, the combination with a rigid, preformed, tapering, tubular thread carrying member of substantially elliptical crosssection provided with a base flange, of a spindle member having a flattened blade portion with opposed transversely convex faces fitting substantially within said tubular member and bowed outwardly into resilient engagement with the inner Wall of said thread carrying member at points substantially on the minor axis of its elliptical cross-section, and a retaining plate carried by said shuttle and provided with a recess shaped to receive a portion of said tubular member adjacent to said flange in the thread delivery position of said member.

4. In a shuttle structure, a preformed, tapering, tubular thread carrying member of substantially elliptical cross-section having an outwardly projecting base flange, a, spindle member therefor comprising a blade portion shaped to fit substantially within said tubular member and having resilient portions bowed outwardly from the major transverse axis thereof for gripping 10 engagement with the inner wall of said thread carrying member and provided with an elliptical shoulder engageable by the base flange, and a holder plate carried by said shuttle and provided with a recess in one edge thereof to receive the thread carrying member in position to engage said base flange.

OVILA J. BENOIT. 

